In this book leading social scientists from many countries analyze the extent to which we are seeing a globalization of culture. Is a unified world culture emerging? And if so, how does this relate to existing cultural divisions and to the autonomy of the nation state? Differing explanations are offered for trends towards global unification and their relation to an economic world-system. Will the intensification of global contact produce increasing tolerance of other cultures? Or will an integrating culture produce sharper reactions in the form of fundamentalist and nationalist movements?

The contributors explore the emergence of `third cultures', such as international law, the financial markets and media conglomerates, as elements which transcend the boundaries of the nation state. As well as examining the extent, causation and consequences of global homogenization, the authors consider its implication for the social sciences.

`An impressive collection of essays focused on topics such as the possible emergence of a world culture, the character of the transnational culture of international law, financial markets and global media conglomerates, and the reactive possibilities of nationalist and fundamentalist movements. Pernicious perhaps to select from such a stimulating bunch but Bauman on Modernity and Ambivalence, Dezalay on the Big Bang and the Law, O'Neill on AIDS and Tenbruch on development policies indicate the quality of the field' - Network

`Provides some interesting and useful overviews and numerous individual insights into the debate of sociologists over the issues of local and global cultural analysis. The writing and editing are crisp, and arguments flow well' - Futures

`The contributors to this stimulating special issue of Theory, Culture & Society reflect on the causes and consequences of the rise of global society. GlobalCulture offers a timely report on work-in-progress at the limits of the discipline' - Sociology

`This is a rich and stimulating collection of heterogeneous reflections on the theme of `the global'. Rich in the variety of themes and perspectives' - Jan Nederveen Pieterse, Institute of Social Studies, The Hague